By Abdoulie John
State prosecutors in Dakar on Friday formally charged Jérôme Bandiacky, infamously known as “The Sniper,” with murder in connection with the disappearance of two gendarmes. The former leader of the “Marrons du Feu” militia, linked to the ex-governing Alliance for the Republic (APR) party, faces a potential maximum sentence as investigations confirm his direct involvement.
Arrested in September 2024, Bandiacky previously served as a bodyguard for former President Macky Sall and ex-Prime Minister Aminata Touré. He played a pivotal role in the government’s brutal crackdown during the 2021 nationwide riots, which sparked widespread violence.
A source close to the case revealed to The Alkamba Times that Bandiacky falsely labeled gendarmes Fulbert Sambou and Didier Baji as “informers” for opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. He allegedly orchestrated their neutralization, leading to their enforced disappearance.
The charges cap Macky Sall’s controversial 12-year presidency, marked by arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, and summary executions. Human rights groups document over 84 deaths between 2021 and 2024, drawing international condemnation and calls for accountability.
The principal judge overseeing the case is pushing for the harshest penalty, citing overwhelming evidence. The indictment arrives amid surging public demands for justice under the new administration led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
Victims’ families are poised to amplify their grievances at an upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Sonko, where they plan to demand transparency and reparations. Advocacy groups hail the charges as a breakthrough in dismantling impunity tied to the former regime.
Bandiacky’s trial is expected to expose deeper militia operations and state-sponsored violence. As Senegal transitions, this case symbolizes a reckoning with its turbulent recent past, with global eyes watching for fair proceedings.
